Titan6
member
I have seen a few threads on Iraqi weapons on this site and thought I might help clear up some bad information on weapons in Iraq. I am currently on leave from Iraq where I serve as an advisor to an Iraqi Army unit that is actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations.
I have been inside of perhaps 300 Iraqi homes and maybe a lesser number of businesses during my tour. We live outside the wire and only visit the Forward Operating Base Occasionally for supplies, maintenance or mission briefs. We don't have internet, Email, satellite dishes or get care packages.
Every house, shanty, apartment and living space in Iraq has a gun. Many businesses do but since many are home based the weapon is more likely to be in living quarters. Nearly every household will also deny that they have any firearms as well. Having more than one per household is often grounds for seizure by police. Police will look for any reason to take a gun in certain problem areas. If a gun is seized it can take up to 12 hours to find another depending upon the time of the day.
Every man in Iraq has a gun or can get to it within 5 minutes.... Everyone. This does not make the country safer. But the country was never safe to begin with. There was less criminal activity prior to 2003 but it was a fascist police state and if you were of a certain ethnic group you might get slaughtered out of hand by government forces.
Each household is supposed to be allowed one AK with one mag. It does not always work out this way but that is the general rule. Mosques may be allowed up to 20 AKs and one machine gun depending upon the size. Each house may be allowed one handgun but this is often restricted by the local government.
An AK like the ones pictured in these mass seizure pictures go for about $100. They are of every make and description that you can imagine. Keep in mind that AKs were made just about everywhere and still are. Some of the countries that make them don't want anyone to know they are going to Iraq.
There are no gun stores that I know of in Iraq. All guns are sold on the blackmarket. Handguns are more of a rarity and go for more than they cost in the states. With a Berretta 92F or Glock 19 running about $700-800. A Tariq or similar goes for about half or less. A Sterling or Said FA Subgun goes for about $500 or less.
To carry a handgun requires a special needs based license for police, security officers, government officials, powerful business leaders or sheiks (and their guards). No civilian open carries a rifle or handgun. Doing so might result in immediate capture or engagement by either US or Iraqi forces. At a minimum the weapon will be seized.
Private security forces carry weapons of all types everywhere. These might be guards for a business, truck convoy for goods or a rich and powerful person. If they are suspected of militia involvement they might be captured or engaged as well however. Central Government or US hired security forrces also carry everywhere but are not normally bothered by ISF. Local government hires may have problems depending upon the status of the local government.
The average Iraqi day laborer makes about $8/ day legally or a little bit more in other activites. Many work two jobs with one being some type of business such as taxi driver or vendor. Many people, especially business owners and government officials make much more. Soldiers and police start at about $350 a month and go up from there. Sheiks may have considerable resources to draw upon in the tens of millions of dollars or could be living just above poverty depending upon the shiek.
Ammunition is expensive. The cheapest is 7.62X39 at about $.25 a round for Wolf or similar. 9mm is about $1/ round. Anything more exotic than these two is higher or can not be found (well not entirely true... anything can be had Iraq for the right price...). Having more than 30 rounds on hand may be grounds for seizure of all by the ISF.
Prices for everything in Iraq are negotiable and vary based upon your personal relationship with the vendor.
Handloading is common for anything other than the basic rounds (9mm/ 7.62 or machine gun rounds). But guns of other types are pretty rare. Even shotguns are pretty rare. The AK is owned by everyone because that is what they have. Bullets are often poorly cast lead. Powder and primers may be taken out of more common rounds and dumped into less common brass. This makes handloads wildly unpredictable and dangerous.
Some of the AKs captured will be destroyed. Many will be reused (without much refit/ rebuild) as is by Iraqi Security Forces. Many will be reported as destroyed and then sold on the blackmarket to either civilians or terrorits by corrupt persons in the system. Some that are destroyed will be salvaged for parts.
Folders are popular because they are much easier to hide. Fixed stocks are often removed and a rag or something is rammed in the hole to keep dirt out. The gun is then hidden to keep from being stolen by the Police, milita, Army or criminals (in that order).
Most engagements by civilians are either indoors or on their own property, perhaps from a roof or courtyard. Most shootings by civilians involve few if any casualties. The lack of training, lack of zero, lack of stock and love for full auto fire combine to make an accuracy rate that could best be described as random. I have seen a man empty an entire 30 round clip into a crowd from a roof (maybe 60 feet) and not hit anyone. Still the volume of shootings mean that a large number of people are shot by civilians every year. The poor quality of medical care and EMS means that a siginificant number will die.
If anyone has any questions send them up. I will not answer any questions about US or Iraqi security or answer any questions about political policy (and ask that the mods delete any such posts or silly rants) but anything else I will do my best to answer.
I have been inside of perhaps 300 Iraqi homes and maybe a lesser number of businesses during my tour. We live outside the wire and only visit the Forward Operating Base Occasionally for supplies, maintenance or mission briefs. We don't have internet, Email, satellite dishes or get care packages.
Every house, shanty, apartment and living space in Iraq has a gun. Many businesses do but since many are home based the weapon is more likely to be in living quarters. Nearly every household will also deny that they have any firearms as well. Having more than one per household is often grounds for seizure by police. Police will look for any reason to take a gun in certain problem areas. If a gun is seized it can take up to 12 hours to find another depending upon the time of the day.
Every man in Iraq has a gun or can get to it within 5 minutes.... Everyone. This does not make the country safer. But the country was never safe to begin with. There was less criminal activity prior to 2003 but it was a fascist police state and if you were of a certain ethnic group you might get slaughtered out of hand by government forces.
Each household is supposed to be allowed one AK with one mag. It does not always work out this way but that is the general rule. Mosques may be allowed up to 20 AKs and one machine gun depending upon the size. Each house may be allowed one handgun but this is often restricted by the local government.
An AK like the ones pictured in these mass seizure pictures go for about $100. They are of every make and description that you can imagine. Keep in mind that AKs were made just about everywhere and still are. Some of the countries that make them don't want anyone to know they are going to Iraq.
There are no gun stores that I know of in Iraq. All guns are sold on the blackmarket. Handguns are more of a rarity and go for more than they cost in the states. With a Berretta 92F or Glock 19 running about $700-800. A Tariq or similar goes for about half or less. A Sterling or Said FA Subgun goes for about $500 or less.
To carry a handgun requires a special needs based license for police, security officers, government officials, powerful business leaders or sheiks (and their guards). No civilian open carries a rifle or handgun. Doing so might result in immediate capture or engagement by either US or Iraqi forces. At a minimum the weapon will be seized.
Private security forces carry weapons of all types everywhere. These might be guards for a business, truck convoy for goods or a rich and powerful person. If they are suspected of militia involvement they might be captured or engaged as well however. Central Government or US hired security forrces also carry everywhere but are not normally bothered by ISF. Local government hires may have problems depending upon the status of the local government.
The average Iraqi day laborer makes about $8/ day legally or a little bit more in other activites. Many work two jobs with one being some type of business such as taxi driver or vendor. Many people, especially business owners and government officials make much more. Soldiers and police start at about $350 a month and go up from there. Sheiks may have considerable resources to draw upon in the tens of millions of dollars or could be living just above poverty depending upon the shiek.
Ammunition is expensive. The cheapest is 7.62X39 at about $.25 a round for Wolf or similar. 9mm is about $1/ round. Anything more exotic than these two is higher or can not be found (well not entirely true... anything can be had Iraq for the right price...). Having more than 30 rounds on hand may be grounds for seizure of all by the ISF.
Prices for everything in Iraq are negotiable and vary based upon your personal relationship with the vendor.
Handloading is common for anything other than the basic rounds (9mm/ 7.62 or machine gun rounds). But guns of other types are pretty rare. Even shotguns are pretty rare. The AK is owned by everyone because that is what they have. Bullets are often poorly cast lead. Powder and primers may be taken out of more common rounds and dumped into less common brass. This makes handloads wildly unpredictable and dangerous.
Some of the AKs captured will be destroyed. Many will be reused (without much refit/ rebuild) as is by Iraqi Security Forces. Many will be reported as destroyed and then sold on the blackmarket to either civilians or terrorits by corrupt persons in the system. Some that are destroyed will be salvaged for parts.
Folders are popular because they are much easier to hide. Fixed stocks are often removed and a rag or something is rammed in the hole to keep dirt out. The gun is then hidden to keep from being stolen by the Police, milita, Army or criminals (in that order).
Most engagements by civilians are either indoors or on their own property, perhaps from a roof or courtyard. Most shootings by civilians involve few if any casualties. The lack of training, lack of zero, lack of stock and love for full auto fire combine to make an accuracy rate that could best be described as random. I have seen a man empty an entire 30 round clip into a crowd from a roof (maybe 60 feet) and not hit anyone. Still the volume of shootings mean that a large number of people are shot by civilians every year. The poor quality of medical care and EMS means that a siginificant number will die.
If anyone has any questions send them up. I will not answer any questions about US or Iraqi security or answer any questions about political policy (and ask that the mods delete any such posts or silly rants) but anything else I will do my best to answer.
